Cecelia Ahern says she used a fake name when submitting her book to get an honest review. Photo: Ronan Lang.Bertie Ahern and his daughter Cecelia. Photo: Twitter/‏@Cecelia_AhernCecelia Ahern, Miriam Ahern and Georgina Byrne. Photo: Brian McEvoyCecelia Ahern and David KeoghanBertie Ahern and Cecelia Ahern at the 2007 Irish premiere of P.S. I Love You

Best-selling author Cecelia Ahern said she has less tolerance for suggestions her father, former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was the driving force behind her success.

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Cecelia Ahern slams suggestions Bertie boosted her career: 'As if my father rang up Warner Bros asking him to turn my book into a movie'

Independent.ie

Best-selling author Cecelia Ahern said she has less tolerance for suggestions her father, former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was the driving force behind her success.

With 17 books under her belt and two successful films including P.S. I Love You and Love, Rosie, Ahern said she is still regularly asked if her father secured her the initial book deal for her debut novel in 2004.

The mother-of-two, who is wed to racehorse owner and tv producer David Keoghan, said she takes offence to the claims.

"I had to bite my lip and be as calm and polite as possible," she said, referring to her early days in the spotlight.

Bertie Ahern and his daughter Cecelia. Photo: Twitter/‏@Cecelia_Ahern

"It wasn't just hinted at, I was asked 'Did your dad get you this deal?' It was also hinted at in articles that were written. As if my dad was going to ring up Warner Bros., 'Hello, it's the Taoiseach here from Ireland, could you make my daughter's book into a movie?'

"It was just so ridiculous. At the time, it didn't bother me because I knew it was ridiculous. I think now as an older, grumpier woman, if people were to be saying that to me, I wouldn't be as calm as I was then."

Meanwhile, her latest book, Flawed, which will be released in two weeks, has already been optioned by Finerman Productions and Warner Bros Pictures and will be produced by Wendy Finerman, who worked on Forrest Gump and The Devil Wears Prada.

"I don't know if this one will be filming in Ireland," she told The Seven O'Clock Show on TV3, which was hosted by her best friend Yvonne Connolly.

"It's a big Hollywood thing. I do try to get my books filmed in Ireland. I think it's imporant. I've love to have as much as possible filmed here, but it's not really an Irish story. It's a universal story."

"I'm working with the same team as PS I Love You, which was fantastic. We've known each other for over 10 years, so we've got a really good relationship. The script has already been written and they've optioned Flawed and the sequel Perfect, which is coming out next year."